Terrible looking ankle injury for Neymar against Getafe in the Copa Del Rey. He could not walk off the pitch or put any weight on it and his foot got bent back underneath his body. The way it looked and how he looked when he was carried off looks like it not only could threaten his season but also the world cup. No Neymar and brazil are not going to win the world cup, this is not your typical brazilian team with loads of great creative attackers waiting in the wings. There is no Garrincha waiting to carry this team if their Pele/Neymar is injured. Brazil over rely on Neymar to give them that X factor.

Have to wonder why he and Messi are out there with Barca up 4-0 in aggregate coming into the match.

PS Messi scores an absolute wonder goal for his second against Getafe, shades of Maradonna against England. He picks the ball up 40 yards away from goal dribbled by 4 defenders and then the goal keeper. A brace by Messi and if you see this goal you realize why this guy won 4 world player of the year awards in a row an absolute genius goal that really nobody but Messi in world football today could score.

This gif doesn't do it justice, but just so you see ithttp://bleacherreport.com/articles/1926311-gifs-lionel-messi-scores-a-golazo-at-getafe

FootballLight wrote:That happened to someone I know. He was on crutches for 3 weeks and it didn't fully recover for 6 weeks. It's a nasty little injury.

It is a real shame because he was playing some beautiful stuff this season I want to see what he can do as he matures, he is younger than Bale, Messi, and Ronaldo and technically and pace wise he is already there. He not as physically developed as any of those three.

Neymar is doing just fine. He's settling into new surroundings & getting to understand La Liga & it's style. He hasn't been sensational but it will take time. If anything, his arrival has sparked life into Alexis Sanchez & Pedro this season, who are playing very well.

FootballLight wrote:I've heard from a few before (where I work) that Neymar is quite the overrated player? Surely not?

Just been reading the BBC Transfer Gossip page.

Look at the bottom, made me giggle.

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be buy all the Real Madrid physio's new cars after they helped him keep fit throughout 2013 to help him win the Ballon D'or. (That he wasn't so fussed about he said).

I think Neymar is doing really well. He is not played through the middle he is played out left where with Santos and Brazil he played more centrally. He is still having a real impact out there as he just tears apart the fullback's in la liga, the only thing he has to think about is which dance move to use or to just run by him with pace. And I have been surprised by the quality of his crosses. If his body holds up I think he will be the best player in the world someday. And I am not a Barca or Neymar fan. He has that bit of Ronaldino to his game but is more naturally a goal scorer than a playmaker although he can do both.

I felt bad for Gervinho at Arsenal. He was being played out of position and people seemed to think that Gervinho was the reason we didn't buy a good striker and made him the focal point of fan's rage and frustration. The guy played well in france, has played well in Italy, and has performed well for his national team. And even at Arsenal he would have been a good squad player, because we didn't have better choices he was used at striker and became the focus of our attack and obviously he is not that quality of a player. Still he was not really good enough to be a consistent starter for Arsenal so I am glad he found a good home. Got to love Juve those cheats getting knocked out of the Italian cup.

I felt bad for Gervinho at Arsenal. He was being played out of position and people seemed to think that Gervinho was the reason we didn't buy a good striker and made him the focal point of fan's rage and frustration. The guy played well in france, has played well in Italy, and has performed well for his national team. And even at Arsenal he would have been a good squad player, because we didn't have better choices he was used at striker and became the focus of our attack and obviously he is not that quality of a player. Still he was not really good enough to be a consistent starter for Arsenal so I am glad he found a good home. Got to love Juve those cheats getting knocked out of the Italian cup.

By another cheating club though.

But I do agree about Gervinho. It appears he was mis-managed at Arsenal because he's performed everywhere else (ie Lille and Roma).

I felt bad for Gervinho at Arsenal. He was being played out of position and people seemed to think that Gervinho was the reason we didn't buy a good striker and made him the focal point of fan's rage and frustration. The guy played well in france, has played well in Italy, and has performed well for his national team. And even at Arsenal he would have been a good squad player, because we didn't have better choices he was used at striker and became the focus of our attack and obviously he is not that quality of a player. Still he was not really good enough to be a consistent starter for Arsenal so I am glad he found a good home. Got to love Juve those cheats getting knocked out of the Italian cup.

By another cheating club though.

But I do agree about Gervinho. It appears he was mis-managed at Arsenal because he's performed everywhere else (ie Lille and Roma).

That is true but Juve are sort of the heavyweight cheaters of Italy being relegated and stripped of two titles. In Italy they are more concerned with buying officials than players.

Monaco can continue to play in France's Ligue 1 after agreeing to pay €50m for the right to remain exempt from the country's tax laws.

The club had been threatened with expulsion from the league after the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) voted last year to restrict admission, as of next season, to clubs whose head-offices are located in France. This decision was intended to strip Monaco of the privileges it enjoys by being based in a tax haven.

I know he`s got his haters but Benitez is a brilliant manager. Can easily see them winning the Coppa & even Napoli could win the Europa League, therefore, Rafa effectively defending his title from last year with Chelsea. Throw in a top 3 in Serie A & a Champions League finish, all could add up to another brilliant year.

He's probably one of the most underrated managers in world football, despite having success everywhere he has been (bar Inter) he's not as rated as highly as he should be.

The last year at Liverpool and the Inter Milan job ruined his reputation basically, which is really unfair. If you look at both of those sides after he left, it was clear they were on the downward trend and Benitez was unfairly tainted. Liverpool were being hurt by Hicks and Gillet while Mourinho had created a short-term squad at Inter and got the best he could out of them before leaving.

I see another defeat for Hamburg. Looks like relegation for them from the Bundesliga, never rated that manager & he was appalling for the Netherlands. I guess Rafael Van Der Vaart will be heading back to these shores, linked with many EPL sides again.

John wrote:Anyone see Balotelli's goal this weekend - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqcom-bfIM8

I see another defeat for Hamburg. Looks like relegation for them from the Bundesliga, never rated that manager & he was appalling for the Netherlands. I guess Rafael Van Der Vaart will be heading back to these shores, linked with many EPL sides again.

I would rather have Super Mario than RVP back as crazy as that sounds. I think Wenger would get the best out of him. Incredible goal.

Amazes me that Pellegrini altered City to a more defensive unit, instead of the 4-4-2 they had been accustomed to and had success all season. I think he showed too much respect to Barcelona, they aren't what they have been before, however, sitting back, just played into Barcelona's hands.

Doesn't surprise me that 3-1 scoreline, seen it a few times this season. Barcelona are there to be had, otherwise, they would be 10 points in the lead with another title on the way, which their not.

Barcelona are there to be had. I dont think any of their defenders would have been starters in an era where the defenders prime job was to, you know, defend. Technically they are all as skilled as anyone in history, but my god - are they diabolical at their primary job. If you had to design an elite team for Bayern to tear to shreds, they would look exactly like Barca. If you break fast enough, you have every chance, City simply werent fast enough to take them to town when they had the ball. Honestly, if Munich face Barcelona, it could be even more embarassing than last season

kingraf

raf

Posts : 16122Join date : 2012-06-06Age : 24Location : To you I am there. To me I am here.... is it possible that I'm everywhere?

That was a huge win for Hamburg. More worryingly for Dortmund is that they are playing so badly now. Massive injuries, Sven Bender is now out for months to add to Gundogan, Hummels & Subotic etc. They might even fail to make Champions League qualification, if the bad form continues.

Sturridge isn't that far behind on 18 considering his current scoring form, he could just about make the ground up. It shows how ridiculous Suarez' scoring rate was earlier in the season when he's had a poor run in front of goal for a couple of months now but is still top.

Really don't see what Tata Martino has bought to Barcelona. Clearly not working, he's not getting the best out of Messi & it appears they are now folding in the league. Could be a big job available for someone in the summer.....

In other news Bayern won 6-1 vs Wolfburg. Oh dear Bundesliga, what has become of you. Shame